Webster boy is given special train ride

Brady Smith is used to playing with toy trains that can fit into his pocket. The 244,000-pound Grafton & Upton Railroad locomotive was a little more than he is used to handling.

The early birthday present for Brady, who turns 4 Monday, came after two friends were talking and found that the Webster boy, who is battling a virulent form of cancer called neuroblastoma, loves trains.

Word reached Kevin Gallagher, an engineer for G&U Railroad, and Sunday's short ride in Grafton was set in motion.

"This is his day. He's telling us what he wants," Mr. Gallagher said Sunday before the ride. "I think we should show him how to run it."

An imposing man with a long goatee and tattoos, Mr. Gallagher cracked a smile, imagining the boy's reaction.

"Hopefully he's not afraid of me or the train," he said while waiting on Westboro Road.

When Brady showed up wearing a train shirt with the number 4 in the middle, all his attention was on the train. He begged his mother, April Smith, to let him get on the steps.

Before he could get on, the little boy was greeted by G&U Railroad owner and CEO Jon Delli Priscoli.

"As a railroad owner, and more importantly as a father myself, I thought this would be a great thing to do for Brady and his family," Mr. Delli Priscoli said. "I hope in some small way this makes Brady happy because that's what this is all about."

Mr. Delli Priscoli handed the little boy a bag of gifts that included an engineer's hat, a train whistle, toy train and other goodies. Mr. Gallagher's family had shirts and other items for Brady.

"I was worried he was going to be shy about it," Mrs. Smith said. "I showed him pictures, pictures of the train and of Kevin and he just wanted to go."

As the train rolled along the tracks, Brady quickly pointed out the different types of railcars to Mr. Gallagher. His love and knowledge of trains was evident.

"It was a tremendous experience," his father Tim Smith said. "What 4-year-old gets to ride in the front of a freight train? He's fascinated with trains. I am grateful to everybody. We just can't say enough about it."

In his father's arms, Brady looked out of the windows as the train rumbled along the track.

The little boy will sit at the CSX yard in Worcester and watch trains. He goes on YouTube to watch train videos as well. After the trip in Grafton, Brady pleaded to go see more trains.

In May and June of 2012, Brady wasn't feeling well. He complained of stomach pain. After several tests the family learned he had stage 4 neuroblastoma; a cancer that arises in immature nerve cells of the adrenal gland, neck, chest or spinal cord. Brady had a tumor on his adrenal gland, which has since been removed.

Brady receives treatment at Boston Children's Hospital and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. He just finished up radiation and will begin antibody therapy in June.

On Thursday, Brady was 58 days post-stem-cell transplant and had completed 12 sessions of radiation therapy. His most recent bone marrow biopsy came back negative for neuroblastoma.

"He's done remarkably well. He is exceeding any and all expectations," his father said. "He is just really fighting an amazing fight."